Shoe of elastic material



June 18, 1940- R, GRUENSFELDER ET AL 2,205,355

SHOE 0F ELASTIC MATERIAL Filed Dec. l2, 1938 Patented June 18, 1940 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE SHOE 0F ELASTIC MATERIAL Gruensfelder Application December 12, 1938, Serial No. 2%,228

2 Glaims.

This invention relates to elastic materials suitable for use in the uppers of shoes, but also adapted for other purposes.

An object of this invention is to provide a multi-ply material having an outer or facing layer of leather or equivalent, non-elastic substance, and an underlying layer of elastic fabric secured together in such a manner that in normal condition 'the non-elastic layer will be bunched or crinkled in closed patterns substantially uniformly about the periphery of such patterns.

A shoe having an upper, or a part thereof, and especially a vamp constructed of this material, has particular advantages in appearance and comfort. The material lends itself to such decoration as to make it desirable in style shoes. At the same time it is elastic and thereby conforms to the foot. Especially when used in a vamp it conforms to irregularities in a foot, but without noticeably divulging such irregularities in a manner and to an extent that has never been accomplished by any other material.

The objects and advantages of the invention will be more apparent from the following detail description of the invention and a preferred method of applying it, taken in connection with the accompanying drawing in which- Fig. l is a perspective View of a shoe employing a fabric of this invention;

Fig. 2 is a plan view of a fabric;

Fig. 3 is a cross section on line 3-3, Fig. 2, and

Fig. 4 is a plan View of a fabric employing the invention in a special design.

In Fig. l a fabric i embodying this invention, is employed in the vamp of a shoe. As shown in Fig. 2, this material comprises a facing layer 2 of leather or other relatively non-elastic material and a lower layer 3 of elastic fabric which is stretchable lengthwise but non-elastic crosswise. That is to say, the Woof of the fabric 3 is nonelastlc while the warp is elastic (or vice versa). In fabricating the material the elastic fabric 3 is stretched While the upper layer is secured to it by rows of stitching 4 and 5, both of which are diagonal to the threads of the fabric 3 and form a plurality of closed diamond shaped patterns. Then in normal condition of the completed fabric the facing material will be crinkled.

Because the attaching seams 4 and 5 are diag- (Cl. 36u51) onal and of substantially the same obliqueness to the threads of the fabric 3, the bunching or crinkling of the non-elastic material within the pattern 6 will be substantially uniform. Taking the Warp threads of the fabric as a base, the par- 5 allel seams 4 `:vill meet those threads at an acute angle while the comparable angle of the threads 5 to the warp will be complementary to the first mentioned angle.

The embodiment shown in Fig. 2 illustrates a material constructed in accordance with this invention, with the seams spaced uniformly to produce a plurality of like diamond patterns. However, it is not essential that the seams attaching the upper and lower layers of the material be absolutely uniform or that any precise angular arrangement in relation to the threads of the fabric be employed. By departing from the regular pattern illustrated in Fig. 2, pleasing designs may be originated, one of which is illustrated in Fig. 4.

In the latter gure it will-be observed that seams 1 are sometimes straight and sometimes curved, but running generally oblique to threads of the fabric 3. The seams cross each other to provide circumscribed sections and to make a pleasing pattern of shirrs or tufts. It will be obvious, of course, that the number, variety and nature of such patterns is limited only by the ar tistic ingenuity of one practicing the invention.

We claim:

l. A shoe having a Vamp comprising a ply of normally inelastic facing material, an underlying ply of elastic material, and a plurality of lines of stitching uniting the plies, the facing between the lines being crinkled and some of said lines converging With respect to others to form a series of similar areas defined by said stitching throughout the extent of said facing material.

2, A shoe having an upper portion of elastic sheet material comprising a ply of normally inelastic facing material, an underlying ply of elastic material, and two sets of parallel lines of stitching uniting the plies, the two sets of lines intersecting to form a continuous' series of areas of facing material circumscribed by stitching throughout the extent of said portion and the facing material within said areas being crinkled.

ROSE GRUENSFELDER. EDWARD C. NEUNUEBEL. 

